Thompson run remains an enigma

WASHINGTON - The dueling perceptions of Republican presidential candidate Fred Thompson are vividly displayed on a political website. "Thompson Is Clearly In Over His Head," an opinion column headline says - right next to national polls that suggest he is near the top of the GOP field.

Two weeks after he entered the race, Thompson's candidacy is as much of an enigma as it was during his summerlong "testing the waters" phase. He has not fizzled or run away with the lead, yet there is evidence that either possibility could happen.

Some of the initial reviews of Thompson's entry have been harsh. The Des Moines Register called his Iowa kickoff "underwhelming," and the influential conservative columnist George Will called his campaign entry a "belly flop." But Time magazine said Thompson had been "mugged" by insiders who don't understand his appeal.

Over the last week, Thompson's statements have created controversy, fueling the perception among some that he is not fully engaged.

When asked in Florida about his views on the Terri Schiavo case, in which Schiavo's husband battled her family to end her life support, Thompson said, "I don't remember the details" of a controversy that became a cause célèbre among religious conservatives. He also left open the possibility of oil drilling in the Florida Everglades, prompting rival Mitt Romney to say later: "You're kidding. . . . The people of Florida would never support such a thing," according to an NBC News report. Just yesterday, he told NBC News, "I don't know anything about" the highly publicized case of six black teenagers initially charged with attempted murder in Jena, La., where thousands marched in protest with top civil rights leaders.

Even as Thompson is heavily courting religious conservatives, James Dobson, head of the evangelical group Focus on the Family, sent an e-mail to friends that said Thompson had "no passion" and was "not for me." Dobson questioned the extent of Thompson's opposition to gay marriage and wondered why Thompson "can't speak his way out of a paper bag on the campaign trail."

Thompson's chief spokesman, Todd Harris, said in an interview yesterday that "by every objective standard other than what the East Coast media elite are writing, things have been going exactly as planned for our campaign."

He said crowds are large and enthusiastic and Thompson has improved his standing in the polls since declaring his candidacy. Asked about Dobson's criticism, he responded that Thompson is "the one conservative in this race who can win the nomination and go on to defeat the Democratic nominee."

Thompson, unlike Romney, opposes a federal constitutional amendment barring gay marriage. Instead, Thompson said he supports legislation that would prohibit one state from imposing its marriage laws on another state.

US Representative Zach Wamp of Tennessee, a Thompson supporter, said in a telephone interview that Thompson's position results from his belief in federalism and demonstrates his determination to not "be a robot on what the Republican position is supposed to be."

Thompson has yet to be tested by participating in a debate. He skipped a forum in New Hampshire earlier this month in order to announce his candidacy on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," and he and three other leading candidates declined an invitation to attend a Sept. 27 debate on African-American issues. He is scheduled to participate with other leading candidates in his first debate on Oct. 9 in Dearborn, Mich.

He agreed to an Oct. 14 debate in Manchester, N.H., but was reminded this week that it had been cancelled weeks ago.

Most polls suggest that Thompson is in second place nationally, behind Rudy Giuliani. A daily tracking survey released yesterday by Rasmussen Reports gave Thompson a 1-point lead, down from a 9-point lead a week earlier.

He is not doing as well in some of the early-voting states. In New Hampshire, for example, he was in third or fourth place in various surveys. Due to his late entry, Thompson has one paid staffer and one consultant in New Hampshire and just this week signed a lease for his campaign headquarters. By contrast, Giuliani has nine staffers, John McCain has 10, and Romney has 14. Thompson has made two brief trips to the Granite State, while some of his leading competitors have made dozens or hundreds of campaign stops.

But in South Carolina, which is slated to hold its primary after New Hampshire, Thompson is leading in most polls, which his aides say is indicative of the Tennessean's strength in the South, where they expect his candidacy to take off.

It was in South Carolina where Thompson made a comment that set some religious conservative activists buzzing. Asked about his religion, Thompson responded, "I attend church when I'm in Tennessee. I'm in McLean [Virginia] right now. . . . I don't attend regularly when I'm up there." Dobson cited that comment as part of his critique of Thompson.

Thompson plans to speak today to the National Rifle Association and tout his stance favoring gun rights, in contrast to the histories of support for some gun control by Giuliani and Romney. Thompson will then spend most of the next week concentrating on fund-raising, an area where he is far behind other major candidates. Thompson, who has campaigned mostly with broad Reaganesque appeals, plans to begin releasing detailed policy papers in early October, aides said.

Globe Correspondent James W. Pindell contributed to this report. Material from the Associated Press was also used.

Michael Kranish can be reached at kranish@globe.com.